John Lennon Wrote This Love Song as a Tribute to All Women
During his time with The Beatles and afterward, John Lennon wrote many love songs. John wrote one of these songs to all women, and one woman in particular. While discussing the song, John detailed why he felt many of his relationships with women weren’t great — and how he was evolving.
John Lennon revealed who 1 of his songs was about
In the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discusses numerous subjects. He mentions Frank Sinatra, Chairman Mao Zedong, President Richard Nixon, and many more famous people. He also spends a lot of time ruminating on The Beatles’ songs and his solo material.
At one point, he discusses why he wrote the love song “Woman.” “Well, that’s to Yoko [Ono] and to all women in a way,” he said. “My history of relationships with women is very poor — very macho, very stupid, but pretty typical of a certain type of man, which I was, I suppose: a very insecure, sensitive person acting out very aggressive and macho. Trying to cover up the feminine side, which I still have a tendency to do, but I’m learning.”
John Lennon was learning how to embrace a new side of himself
John opened up about his personal evolution. “I’m learning that it’s all right to be soft and allow that side of me out,” he admitted. “The image I project is the thing that’s not real — you know, the tendency to put on my boots, like you first came in wearing your Frye boots.”
John revealed why he wore cowboy boots in the first place. “I tend to put my cowboy boots on when I’m insecure,” he said. “I’m wobbling down with the little Cuban heels; whereas, now, I’m in my sneakers and I’m comfy.” Subsequently, John jokingly noted he could get violent while wearing cowboy boots, but he couldn’t run very quickly.
The way the world reacted to the song
“Woman” became a massive hit. The track peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 20 weeks. Its parent album, Double Fantasy, was also popular. It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 77 weeks. Notably, Double Fantasy was the final album John released in his lifetime.
“Woman” was also successful in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, the song peaked at No. 1 in the U.K., staying on the chart for 11 weeks. Meanwhile, Double Fantasy reached No. 1 in the U.K., lasting on the chart for 36 weeks.
“Woman” continues to impact pop culture. For example, it appeared in a scene from the provocative jukebox musical Seder-Masochism in 2018. John wrote many great love songs — and with “Woman,” he wrote a love song for all women.
